Joint construction for a doll or manikin



May 3, 1960 J. WEIH JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR A DOLL 0R MANIKIN Filed June 5, 1958 INVENTOR JULIUS WEIH ATTO R N EYS JOINT CONSTRUCTION FOR A DOLL R MANIKIN Julius Weih, Ozone Park, N.Y., assignor to Ideal Toy Corporation, Hollis, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application June 5, 1958, Serial No. 740,037

9 Claims. (Cl. 46173) My invention relates to a new and improved doll or manikin. In particular, my'invention relates to a new and improved joint assembly for the limb of a doll, whereby one part of the limb may be connected to the body or one part of the limb may be connected to another part of the same limb. In particular, the invention relates to a new and improved assembly at the hip-joint and at the knee-joint of a doll or manikin.

According to my invention, I provide a simple and durable connection which can be manufactured and assembled at low cost. Other objects are described in the annexed drawings and in the followingdescription.

Fig. l is a vertical section of a part of the body and thigh, showing the leg in front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper part of the leg.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view, showing certain parts of the hip-joint of the assembly.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

In this embodiment, the doll is' of the walking type, but the invention is not so limited thereto.

The doll has a body or body member 23 which can be made of any suitable flexible or rigid material. In this embodiment, the body 23 is made of flexible material, such as a polyvinyl resin. Since the walking mechanism of a doll is well known, only a part of this optional-walking mechanism is shown herein. This walking mechanism comprises a horizontal plate Fa, whose upstanding side flanges Fb are fixed to' the inner face of the body of the doll. The plate Fa can be made of metal.

The metal plate F is turnable about a horizontal lateral axis which is located below the bottom of said plate F. The upper part of said plate F extends through the usual slot in the fixed metal plate Fa.

The thigh or thigh member 3 of the doll can be made of any suitable plastic, such as a polyvinyl chloride which is used in the well-known plastisol process. This thigh 3 is substantially rigid under ordinary hand pressure.

At its upper end, the thigh 3 is provided with a recess 3R. Said thigh 3 has a sleeve or open wall 16a which has a face or outwardly facing surface which is the base of the recess 3R. This wall 16 a'has a through-and-through bore or opening B which has a square cross-section and terminates at an inwardly facing surface. A rigidmetal plate or outer enlargement 17.0f disc shape, .is located outward of opening B in facing engagement with the bottom of the recess 3R. A rigid frusto-conical head or inner enlargement 15, made of suitable plastic, is located inward of and in engagement with the inner face of the wall 16a. This frustd-conical'head has a flat inwardly facing wall15a. v

A rigid metal pin, shank or extension 20 is provided at one end thereof with .an integral head 20a, and at its other end with an aflixed head 21. This rigid metal pin 20 extends through and beyond 'opposite'endsof the sleeve .or wall 16a and through a bore of a washer or plate atom and alined bores of the metal plate 17, and the conical head 15. An insert or block 16 is non-rotatably received in the opening B and spacedly surrounds the shank 20 between the inner and outer enlargements 15 and 17.

One end of a compression spring 22 abuts the head 21. The other end of the compression spring 22 abuts the planar face 15a of the conical head 15. The compression of the spring 22 thus maintains the plate 17 frictionally engaged with the outer face of the wall 16a, and maintains the head 15 frictionally engaged with the inner face of the wall 16a. The block 16 has a square outline which fits-against walls of the square bore B, so that the block 16 and the thigh 3 cannot turn relative to teach other.

The flat body of the washer or plate 25 abuts the outer face of the plate 17 so that the pressure of the spring 22 is exerted directly upon the washer 25 and through the washer 25 against the plate 17. The plate 17 has a detent lug 26 which fits releasably within a detent hole or bore of the washer 25, when the thigh is in walking position, see Fig. 7.

The washer 25 is fixed to the turnable flange F. through an intermediate member M which consists of two parts connected to each other by means of a pin 21a. This specific connection is not important for thepurposes of this invention, and the washer 25 may be directly connected to the flange F in any manner.

The plate 17 has four lugs 18 which are located within the bore B at the respective faces of the block 16, so that the plate 17 is fixed to and cannot turn relative to the block 16 or relative to the thigh 3. Thus, the block 16, and lugs 18 define means securing the thigh 3 to the enlargement or plate 17, While the block, lugs and enlargement define means mounting the thigh for rotation relative to the body 23 about the axis of the extension 20. As above noted, if the doll is used as a walking doll, the thigh 3 turns around the horizontal lateral axis which is below the bottom of the vertical flange F. If the doll is not used as a walking doll, the thigh 3 can turn relative to the body 23 around the horizontal lateral axis of the pin 20.

- In making the assembly at the hip-joint which is shown in Fig. l, the upper end of the thigh 3 may be softened, if necessary, by means of heat.

In making the final assembly shown in Fig. l, and assuming that the doll-has walking mechanism, the plates Fa and F and the parts which are finally located within the thigh 3, are assembled outside of the torso. These assembled parts are then put inside of the torso 23 and connected in place inside of the torso 23.

If the doll does not have walking mechanism, it does have flange P which is connected in some suitable manner to the torso of the doll. When all these parts have been connected to the torso 23, the upper end of the thigh 3 is softened, as by means of heat. This thigh 3 is now inserted through the respective opening of the wall of the torso 23, so that the head 15 passes through the square-shaped bore B.

When the upper end of the thigh 3 cools to ordinary room temperature, the assembly is maintained. I

In the final assembly, the flat base of the frusto-conical head 15 abuts the respective face of the wall 16a.

At its lower end, the thigh 3 is provided with an internal sleeve-like partition 14 having a through opening 14a and forms part of the socket at the knee-joint. The leg 2,is provided with a knee-portion 2a which is located within this knee-joint socket, in the final assembly.

As shown in Fig. 2, this upper part 2a of the leg 2 has a recess 4 which has walls 5 and 6. A suitable projection of the knee-socket fits within this recess 4, thus releasably retaining the leg 2 in its upright walking position which is shown in Fig. 1.

The means for retaining the leg 2 in this upright walking position are not important for the purposes of this specification.

A generally U-shaped rigid metal yoke or extension 9 has legs or arms 8 and 8a extending through and beyond opposite inner and outer ends of the sleeve 14, or the opening therein, with its bight portion innermost, and has its distal arm portions 7 and 7a spread apart, arranged astride and turnably connected to the upper part 2a of the leg 2, by means of a transverse shaft or pivot pin 8'. The leg portions 7 and 7a of said yoke or extension frictionally engage the upper part 2a of the leg 2 and define an outer enlargement on the extension in abutting engagement with the outer end or outer end surface of the sleeve.

As shown in Fig. 4, the parallel upper or inner portions of extension legs 8 and 8a are connected by a top or bight portion, and the partition 14 has a bore or opening 14a. A compression spring 11 has its upper end abutting the bight portion which conects the legs 8 and 8a. The lower end of this compression spring 11 abu-ts a lug 12 slidably received between the legs 8 and 8a which lug is integral with a frusto-conical head or enlargement 10. The head It and its lug 12 are made of any suitable hard plastic with the head extending laterally beyond the legs 8 and 8a.

As shown in Fig. 3, the frusto-conical *head has diametrically opposed side recesses R. The frusto-conical head 10 and its integral lug 12 are vertically slidabie relative to the yokeor extension 9. When these parts are out of the knee-socket, the compression spring 11 will maintain the lug 12 forced against the top of the top portion 212 of the leg. However, in the final assembly, there is a space between the lug 12 and the top of the top portion za, and this space is shown in Fig. 4, for convenience of illustration. 7

The lug 12 is initially connected to the yoke and to the other associated parts, outside of the thigh 3. The socket portion of the thigh 3 is then suitably softened as by means of heat, and the assembly shown in Fig. 4 is inserted, so that the parallel legs 8 and 8a are extended through the bore 14a or opening of the socket or sleeve 14, to the position indicated in Fig. 1. In such position, the bottom fiat face of the frusto-eonical head 10 abuts the top or inner surface of the socket or sleeve 1-4, thus maintaining the lug 12 spaced from the top of the leg 2 and the outer enlargement or spread legs 7 and 7a. That is, the spring 11 urges the outer enlargement 7, 7a inward against the outer end of sleeve 14, and urges the inner enlargement 10 outward against the inner end of the sleeve. I

Also, there is friction between the lug 12 and the walls of the socket 14, and the walls of the socket 14 are shaped to abut a part of the leg portion 2a. Hence, if the leg 2 is in upright Walking position, it will be maintained in said upright walking position by said friction. Also, and as previously mentioned, the socket 14 has a releasable detent which releasably engages the recess 4 when the leg 2 is in the upright walking position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a joint construction for a doll or mannequin which is advantageously well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for pur poses of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A joint construction for a doll or mannequin, comprising a first member having a through opening extending inward from an outwardly facing surface and terminating at an inwardly facing surface, a second member arranged proximate to the opening of said first member, an extension carried by said second member and extending inward through said opening beyond said inwardly facing surface, an inner enlargement on the inner end of said extension in abutting engagement with said inwardly facing surface, an outer enlargement on said extension outward of. and in abutting engagement with said outwardly facing surface, said inner enlargement being movable along said extension, and resilient means operatively connected to said inner enlargement and biasing the latter toward said outer enlargement to maintain said enlargements in said abutting engagement.

2. A joint construction according to claim 1, in combination with mounting means mounting one of said members for rotation relative to said extension, for relative swinging movement of said first and second members.

3. A joint construction according to claim 1, in combination with mounting means mounting one of said members for generally axial rotation relative to said extension, for relative swinging movement of said first and second members. a

4. A joint construction according to claim 1, in combination with securing means fixing said first member to said inner enlargement for rotation of said first member and said inner enlargement relative to said second memher about the axis of said extension, and releasable detent means carried by said inner enlargement and said second member for releasably holding said first member in a selected position of rotation relative to said second member. I a

5. A joint construction according to claim 4, said securing means comprising an insert non-rotatably engaged in said opening and spacedlysurrounding said extension, and fastener means fixedly securing said insert to said inner enlargement, for unitary rotation of said first member and said inner enlargement about the axis of said extension.

6. A joint construction according to claim 1, in combination with mounting means mounting said second member for rotation about an axis transverse of said extension, for relative swinging movement of said first and second members.

7. A joint construction according to claim 1, said mounting means comprising spaced arms extending longitudinally inward from said'extension astride said second member, and a transverse journal shaft extending between said arms and through said second member to journal the latter for rotation about the axis of said shaft.

8. A joint construction for a doll or mannequin, comprising a first member having a through opening extending inward from an outwardly facing surface and terminating at an inwardly facing surface, a second member arranged proximate to the opening of said first member, a plate fixed to said second member outward of and facing toward said opening, a shank extending from said plate inward in spaced relation through said opening beyond said inwardly facing surface, a pair of inner and outer enlargements loosely engaged on inner and outer regions of said shank, said inner enlargement being in abutting engagement with said inwardly facing surface, said outer enlargement being interposed between and in abutting engagement with said outwardly facing surface and the plate of said second member, spring means operatively connected between said inner enlargement and the inner end of said shank for resiliently urging the latter inward and resiliently maintaining said enlargements in said abutting engagements, an insert non-rotatably engaged in said opening spacedl-y surrounding said shank, fastener means fixedly securing said insert to said outer enlargement for unitary rotation of said first member and said outer "enlargement about said shank, and rele'as'able detent means on said outer enlargement and plate for releasably holding saidfirst member in a selected position of rotation relative to said second member.

9.- "A joint construction for a doll or mannequin, comprising a first member having a through opening extending inward from an outwardly facing surface and terminating at an inwardly facing surface, a second member arranged proximate to the opening of said first member,

an inner enlargement slidably carried by said extension inward of and in facing engagement with said inwardly facing surface, and spring means operatively connected between the bight portion of said extension and said inner enlargement to bias said extension inward and maintain said inner enlargement in said abutting engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,939,677 Epstein Dec. 19, 1933 2,359,425 Katz Oct. 3, 1944 2,621,443 Black Dec. ,16, 1952 2,799,970 Baggott July 23, 1957 2,835,076 Weih May 20, 1958 

